Special Education Associate - Waterford

Waterford Elementary; Urbandale (IA); On-site; USD 22,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

IPERS retirement account

Health and Dental Insurance

Generous leave package

Job summary

Waterford Elementary in Urbandale, IA seeks a Special Education Assistant to support individualized and small-group instruction under the supervision of licensed teachers. The role emphasizes collaboration, PBIS implementation, and maintaining student confidentiality in a dynamic classroom setting.

The position offers a full-time schedule (7 hours 10 minutes per day, including a 30-minute lunch) with required background check and pre-employment physical.

Qualifications

• High school diploma preferred.
• Experience as an associate preferred.
• Ability to work with individual students or small groups.

Responsibilities

• Work with individual students or small groups to reinforce learning.
• Assist teacher in devising strategies to reinforce material based on student needs.
• Support generalization of skills in an integrated setting.
• Demonstrate collaborative skills in a team environment.
• Support PBIS for all students in all settings.
• Operate classroom equipment for instructional use.
• Distribute and collect worksheets and materials for instruction.
• Implement a behavior support plan.
• Maximize use of time throughout the day.
• Guide independent work and remedial tasks set by the teacher.
• Supervise students during drills, assemblies, play periods, and field trips.
• Read to students and participate in oral communications.

Skills

Collaborative skills

Communication skills

PBIS support

Education

High School diploma

Job description

Starting Date: Immediately

Job Description

Position Criteria:

• Experience as an associate, preferred

Performance Criteria:

• Work with individual students or small groups of students to reinforce learning of material or skills initially introduced by the teacher.
• Assist the teacher in devising strategies for reinforcing material or skills based on a sympathetic understanding of individual students, their needs, interests and abilities.
• Support generalization of skills in an integrated setting.
• Demonstrate collaborative skills in a team environment.
• Support PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Support) for all students in all settings.
• Operate and care for equipment used in the classroom for instructional purposes.
• Distribute and collect workbooks, papers, and other materials for instruction.
• Implement a behavior support plan.
• Maximize use of time throughout the day.
• Guide independent work, enrichment work, and remedial work set up and assigned by the teacher.
• Assist with the supervision of the students during emergency drills, assemblies, play periods, and field trips.
• Assist with such large group and small group activities.
• Read to students, listen to students read, and participate in such other forms of oral communication with students.
• Assist with lunch, snack, and cleanup routines.
• Assist with wash-up and toilet routines if needed.
• Serve as the chief source of information and help to any substitute teacher assigned in the absence of the regular teacher.
• Maintain the same high level of ethical behavior and confidentiality of information about students as is expected of fully licensed teachers.
• Assist with accurate data collection.
• Commit to ongoing professional growth to support the unique needs of individual students.
• Other duties as assigned.

Physical Demands: The Special Education Associate job demands require: occasional maximum lift of 25 lbs from floor to waist; occasional maximum carry of 25 lbs for 30 ft; occasional maximum horizontal push/pull force of 40 lbs; occasional grip force of 30 lbs; frequent bend; frequent crouch; frequent neck rotation; frequent trunk rotation; frequent standing; frequent walking; occasional forward reach; occasional overhead reach; occasional lateral/sideways reach; occasional hand coordination; occasional fine motor coordination; occasional sitting; occasional crouch/kneel.

Benefits included:

• IPERS retirement account
• Health and Dental Insurance paid for the employee (spouse/family coverage available at an additional cost)
• Generous leave package including personal leave, sick leave, family sick leave, and bereavement leave

Background check completion and pre-employment physical required prior to employment.

Waukee Community School District Waterford Elementary - Urbandale, Iowa Open in Google Maps

Job Details

Application Deadline: Oct 25, 2026 4:00 PM (Central Standard Time)

Starting Date: Immediately

Job Description

Hours:7 hours, 10 minutes per day (including 30 minute unpaid lunch)

Position Criteria:

• High School diploma, preferred
• Experience as an associate, preferred

Performance Criteria:

• Work with individual students or small groups of students to reinforce learning of material or skills initially introduced by the teacher.
• Assist the teacher in devising strategies for reinforcing material or skills based on a sympathetic understanding of individual students, their needs, interests and abilities.
• Support generalization of skills in an integrated setting.
• Demonstrate effective communication skills.
• Demonstrate collaborative skills in a team environment.
• Support PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Support) for all students in all settings.
• Operate and care for equipment used in the classroom for instructional purposes.
• Distribute and collect workbooks, papers, and other materials for instruction.
• Implement a behavior support plan.
• Maximize use of time throughout the day.
• Guide independent work, enrichment work, and remedial work set up and assigned by the teacher.
• Assist with the supervision of the students during emergency drills, assemblies, play periods, and field trips.
• Assist with such large group and small group activities.
• Read to students, listen to students read, and participate in such other forms of oral communication with students.
• Assist with lunch, snack, and cleanup routines.
• Assist with wash-up and toilet routines if needed.
• Serve as the chief source of information and help to any substitute teacher assigned in the absence of the regular teacher.
• Maintain the same high level of ethical behavior and confidentiality of information about students as is expected of fully licensed teachers.
• Assist with accurate data collection.
• Commit to ongoing professional growth to support the unique needs of individual students.
• Other duties as assigned.

Physical Demands: The Special Education Associate job demands require: occasional maximum lift of 25 lbs from floor to waist; occasional maximum carry of 25 lbs for 30 ft; occasional maximum horizontal push/pull force of 40 lbs; occasional grip force of 30 lbs; frequent bend; frequent crouch; frequent neck rotation; frequent trunk rotation; frequent standing; frequent walking; occasional forward reach; occasional overhead reach; occasional lateral/sideways reach; occasional hand coordination; occasional fine motor coordination; occasional sitting; occasional crouch/kneel.

Benefits included:

• IPERS retirement account
• Health and Dental Insurance paid for the employee (spouse/family coverage available at an additional cost)
• Generous leave package including personal leave, sick leave, family sick leave, and bereavement leave

Background check completion and pre-employment physical required prior to employment.

Position Type: Full-Time

Salary: $19.35 Per Hour

Special Education > Special Education Assistant

Equal Opportunity Employer

All employers submitting a job opening for posting on the Teach Iowa system will not discriminate in hiring on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, age, physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, marital status, or status as a veteran. A bona fide religious institution may choose to exercise the allowances in Iowa Code section 216.6.(6)d. Employers may have additional developed specific equal employment opportunity policies and procedures; please check with employers.

Job Requirements

• High School/Trade School degree preferred.
• Citizenship, residency or work visa required

Contact Information

• Mark Davis
• 560 SE University Avenue
• Waukee, Iowa 50263
• Phone: [phone]
• Email: [e-mail]